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Schools to help children in care Schools to help children in care
(about 2 hours later)
Children in care could receive help from a "virtual head teacher" under plans to boost their opportunities. The government has pledged to spend more than £300m over the next four years to improve the lives and opportunities of children in care.
A White Paper published later is expected to say the heads could oversee children's progress. Plans set out in a White Paper, just published, call for "urgent, sustained action" across central and local government in England.
Other proposals include making schools give places to children in care, even if they are full, and providing bursaries of £2,000 for university. Education Secretary Alan Johnson says such children need stability to help them overcome their bad start.
It is also expected to propose salaries for foster parents and the right for children to stay in care after 16. There are about 61,000 children in care in England, 69% of whom are fostered.
The government has committed itself to improving the educational prospects of children in care, a group largely seen as being failed by the system. Children in care are more likely than others to become homeless and go to prison. Studies show only 11% of children in care currently get five good GCSEs, compared with 56% in England as a whole.
Teenage pregnancies Young women aged 15 to 17 who have been in care are three times more likely to get pregnant.
Only 11% of children in care currently get five good GCSEs, compared with 56% in England as a whole. Much of the White Paper is focussed on improving the education and overall deveopment of children in care.
Young women aged 15 to 17 who have been in care are three times more likely to become teenage mothers than others their age, the government says.
By the age of 19, they are more than twice as likely not to be in education, employment and training, official figures show.By the age of 19, they are more than twice as likely not to be in education, employment and training, official figures show.
And almost one in three adult prisoners have spent time in care, research suggests. If there is one word which can sum up what these children need in their lives, that is stability Alan Johnson, Education Secretary
Education Secretary Alan Johnson is due to outline the White Paper's proposals in the Commons, but it is thought they will not differ much from the Green Paper published in the autumn. Plans include making schools give places to children in care, even if they are full, and providing bursaries of a minimum of £2,000 for those who go on to university.
Those proposals included: The government will also pilot a scheme in 11 local authorities for children to receive help from a "virtual head teacher", who would check on the progress of all children in care in their area.
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  • 'Virtual head teacher' to track progress
  • Access     to the best schools
  • Catch-up help in school
  • Free transport to school
  • £2,000 bursary for university
  • Fewer placements
  • Stay in foster care until at least 18
  • No school moves for children in Years 10 and 11
  • 'Councils' formed for children in care
 It says children should not be moved too often, and that no one should be moved in the crucial GCSE years of 10 and 11.
They should have personalised learning, plus £500 a year to support their education and development if they are at risk of not reaching expected standards.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson has outlined the White Paper's proposals.
They include:
  • Access to the best schools
  • £500 to help pupils catch up
  • £2,000 bursary for university
  • Fewer placements
  • Stay in foster care until at least 18
  • 'Virtual head teacher' to track progress
  • No school moves for children in Years 10 and 11
  • 'Councils' formed for children in care
  • Exclusion made last absolute last resort
Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast: "More likely to end up in prison, more likely to become homeless, more likely to be a young offender. How can we can change it is by putting it at the top of our priorities and making sure we are working together.Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast: "More likely to end up in prison, more likely to become homeless, more likely to be a young offender. How can we can change it is by putting it at the top of our priorities and making sure we are working together.
"The problem has been from our wide consultation, is that they are allowed to slip into care too easily, moved around too much and then pushed out too soon."The problem has been from our wide consultation, is that they are allowed to slip into care too easily, moved around too much and then pushed out too soon.
"If there is one word which can sum up what these children need in their lives, that is stability.""If there is one word which can sum up what these children need in their lives, that is stability."
At the moment, there are about 61,000 children in care in England, 69% of whom are fostered.